Mafia and the Florist

Arturo watched from the window of his pop’s shop as the movers loaded more and more flowerpots into the once empty shop. The shop had been vacant for a few months before then, and he had no idea who would buy such a rundown place.

it was mid spring to start. someone starting a flower shop in the middle of prime flower time was sort of a stupid concept to him. granted, no one could exactly talk flowers to the man covered in tattoos wearing a leather jacket and a permanent scowl on his face. No one could also exactly tell him when prime flower time was when he had no idea himself. He didn't know flowers at all; he was more of an expert of guns and coffee.

“Pops,” he called across the shop swarming with patrons and cute waitresses, “who did you say again purchased the shop across the street?”

His father, Simon, set a tray of fresh baked goods at the small checkout counter giving him a scowl, “what the hell did I say about yelling across my shop?”

The older man popped him upside the head as he walked over to the window to join his head strong son. looking out he seemed to give a nod.

“Some folks were saying it was a florist couple or something. From what some of the men have said they mentioned something about it being a single person. I think he’s around your age.”

Simon shrugged his shoulders and went back to work,

“We don't get many new folks in town you know. You should enjoy it,” he laughed as he went back to his counter.

Arturo rolled his eyes as he sipped his americano.

“Boss,” a familiar voice called out, “can I just say, that if this new person is hot I totally call them.”

“This freaking playboy. I swear. You need to find a stable relationship like the rest of us Alex or you'll end up with an STD.” another voice chimed in.

Arturo looked up from his drink to see his companions. At this point he could probably call them his best friends. They have been friends since they were kids, so he guessed as much.

“Pops, one iced coffee, sugar no cream please.” his female companion called out.

Harley gave him a smile as she sat down across from him also staring out the window at the movers,

“Do we need to keep someone posted, make sure no one is trying to encroach?” the redhead gave him a toothy grin, “I can have some goods wrapped up and ready to go in less than 20 just say the word. But do say it soon because I have to go pick up my girl soon.”

Arturo rolled his eyes as his friend, "Not right now, we'll keep an eye out for right now. If we need force, we can get it in a matter of minutes."

"I'm just saying, if whoever moves in, is hot and single I might try a bite. Or you can pounce first as one of the only single people in this group aside from me and Nathan here." His longest time friend, Alexander, gave him a flirtatious grin, "I don't mind taking a bite, I mean I got a bit of a date tonight too if you catch my drift."

If Arturo could roll his eyes anymore they would go into the back of his head to see his entire ego roll their collective eyes. He swore, in all the years the two grew up, Alex grew up to be such a... what was the word he could use lightly? A slut.

"No thanks, I didn't ask for any sloppy seconds." Arturo pushed the other alpha away from him as he continued to look out the window. At that exact moment he almost inhaled his drink.

As if a being crafted from marble itself walked in his line of vision. Light brown hair that seemed to fall in place with every curl. A smile that made his face seem to light up the entire world. Dark blue eyes that seemed to contain the entire sea's worth of gems and life. The best part Arturo could note was that he had the perfect frame, full of curves and handholds he wanted to grab like his bike handles.

"Boss man, you're drooling." His other companion, Riley, poked him lightly snapping him out of his thousand-yard stare, "I'm guessing you like what you see."

Arturo quickly stood up giving a glance to his party of four, "Touch him and you'll have an new exit hole to eat or shit out of."

The group of four could only nod as their leader walked out the door. The group could also only watch from the window as their boss walked across the busy midtown street without looking almost getting his ass run over. They could also only watch, almost with a cringe, as their boss tried to flirt for the first time in his entire twenty-five years of life.

They couldn't catch all he was saying as he stood in front of the younger male, but Alex was filming the entire thing from his spot at the table trying his damnedest not to die of laughing. The same went for the rest. All they could make out was a few wild gestures, the rare time the new man would laugh at a joke that was said, and the times the two would walk back and forth along the street itself. It perplexed them, almost made Riley or Nathan run out to see if they could eavesdrop on their conversation.

Seeing that the conversation went on for a good fifteen minutes they assumed that it was going well. They watched the younger male laugh a few times as Arturo made a complete fool of himself. Eventually the conversation had to come to an end as Arturo crossed the street back to the cafe.

"How did it go?" They could only inquire. That was the first time they had ever seen their boss so intrigued in something in a long time.

Arturo seemed to have a triumphant look on his face as he held up a slip of paper. "All the digits."

The four horsemen (and horsewoman) cheered in triumph.

"This means a drink!" Riley cheered, "When's the first date?"

"We didn't arrange one yet." Arturo stated matter a factly as he walked into the back of the restaurant.

He rooted through the boxes till he found the ones he was looking for as the group looked at him baffled.

Arturo Duca; son of the notorious Diego Duca, who was known for being the biggest playboy in all of Italy in his golden years; didn't know how to or just didn't decide to set up a first date with someone he was interested in.

The four had to pick their jaws up off the floor. Alex slide Riley a fifty-dollar bill when the others weren't looking.

"Bossman, not to be rude or anything but...are you sure you're your father's son?" Alex put a hand on Arturo's shoulder in reassurance, "I mean I get Simon came along sort of after you were born and everything but, Italians are sort of known to flirt and all that."

"Why should I make haste in the decision to get a piece of ass if I can take my time?" Arturo shot his group a look as he passed the boxes and headed for the back door with a wave to Simon.

"He shot down the first date idea, didn't he?" Harley guessed almost right on the dime.

Alex and Riley could almost see the fierce tiger's ears droop in a mix of embarrassment and frustration.

"First, his name is Mathias. Second he said he wanted to take his time getting to know the town and that technically I could call showing him around a first date." Arturo almost stumbled around the words trying to find the right ones, "Though being too hasty won't get me anywhere. It's not like I'm going anywhere. Now let's go, we need to get this out to the boys tonight."

"Yes boss!" the four chimed as they took their boxes to the truck.

Arturo could only try to change the subject on his borderline rejection. He had a feeling deep down in his chest that he needed to have the new man in town in his life. Hopefully forever. It wasn't just the thought in his head that they were meant to be as soon as he caught eye on him, but rather the pulling of his heart strings told him so.

He knew he would have to ask his father about the feeling he had in his chest. If his father had anything to say about listening to the heart, he'd probably would have married the one girl from middle school that almost bit his lip off with his first kiss. So maybe he'd just have to go to his pops instead.

His fathers would find out eventually, and when that happened, he was screwed.

All the alpha could do was give a long sigh as he put in the coordinates on the GPS for the delivery pick up. He'd be along with his thoughts for a while, eventually he'd have to pick up his phone to send the first text to the new neighbor. When that time came, he'd pray that things will go better than they did earlier.